Daisy, Joint Head of School on Leadership, Sixth Form and Life After Sedbergh

As pupils move through Sixth Form, the final year at Sedbergh brings new responsibilities alongside important decisions about life beyond School.

Daisy, one of this year’s joint Heads of School, reflects on what leadership means to her, the experiences that have shaped her time at Sedbergh and how her thinking about university and the future has developed. For current and prospective parents, her answers offer an insight into the confidence, independence and breadth of experience that can grow through academic life, boarding, co-curricular opportunities and relationships with staff and fellow pupils.

How does it feel to be starting Year 13 as Head of School? Does this year feel different from Year 12?

Starting Year 13 definitely feels like a big step in my journey. With exams approaching quickly, there is a new atmosphere within our year to work hard and make the most of our time here.

I am really enjoying being the oldest in the School and stepping into a position of responsibility and care over the younger years, and I think that it has opened up lots of opportunities to take on new challenges in organisation, public speaking and, all around, stepping up into the next stage of life.

What kind of Head of School would you like to be? What would you like pupils to remember about your year in the role?

I believe that one of the most important responsibilities of a Head of School is to be a visible presence for the younger years. As well as showing up to as much as possible, I would also love to be considered a supportive presence where people would feel comfortable coming to me for help or to share their ideas.

I would like to be remembered as someone who was always there to give a helping hand and bring a smile to people’s faces. The Heads of School before us were highly respected due to their kindness and supportiveness, and this is something I would love to live up to.

What do you think pupils at Sedbergh need most from their Heads of School this year?

I believe that the pupils at Sedbergh need a Head of School who is approachable. To me, this means being a warm presence who pupils feel they are able to come to with queries or suggestions.

I want everyone to feel represented and heard, which would mean being someone who will listen and act on the thoughts of everyone. I believe that the pupils would benefit from having role models, something which the prefect team as a whole are striving to be. This means leading by example and simply showing up and putting in my best effort to show what is possible.

Leadership can sometimes mean speaking up, making difficult decisions or representing people whose views differ from your own. What do you think good leadership looks like?

I believe that good leadership involves being able not only to discern right from wrong, but also to have the courage to speak up for this. Being a leader means that you are someone who is a role model, and so making the right decisions, even when hard, is incredibly important.

Furthermore, leadership is about understanding that you are not always correct. It is important to consider the views of everyone and, above all, listen. For me, this is the best way to ensure that everyone feels represented, heard and respected.

Looking beyond Sedbergh, what do you think are the biggest challenges facing young people as they leave school today?

I am currently at the beginning of Year 13. This means that I am writing my personal statement, choosing universities and beginning to make important decisions.

I think that one of the biggest challenges facing young people as they begin to leave School is making these decisions. But it’s not just making the decision that is hard; it’s choosing to take the harder but more rewarding path. It is scary to take risks and put yourself out there, perhaps to a difficult university or to follow a less-used path such as apprenticeships.

As we come to this age, it is a time when people must make decisions about who they are and where they want to be, and whilst these are difficult decisions to make, they are what will define us as people.

How do you think Sedbergh prepares pupils for those challenges? What experiences here do you think will matter most once you leave?

Sedbergh life is full of experiences every day that help to prepare us for the future. The busyness of daily life means that pupils learn to work hard and have the resilience to carry on even on a long day.

Playing sports through sun and rain teaches ambition, motivation and the power of discipline. These are crucial life skills that set pupils up for the move to greater independence when entering the wider world.

Being around friends, older and younger pupils, and teachers so often has a really positive impact on your ability to make connections with lots of different people.

Finally, the ability to step out of your comfort zone and try an activity that you would not otherwise have considered a strength prepares pupils for future challenges, where hard decisions which take courage must be made.

What are you currently considering for life after Sedbergh? University, an apprenticeship, a gap year, work, study overseas or something else?

I am currently planning on applying to universities in the UK. This is something that I have always known that I would like to do, as I love learning and surrounding myself with people who feel likewise.

I would be really happy to be anywhere that would allow me to pursue academics, sport and music in the same way Sedbergh has allowed me to.

Has your thinking about that pathway changed during your time at Sedbergh, or have you always had a clear idea of what you wanted to do?

Whilst I have always been set on going to university, the exact direction I wanted to take has changed a lot during my time at Sedbergh.

When I was doing my GCSEs, I had always planned on following a more scientific route and found humanities more difficult. However, in my revision for GCSEs, I had lots of support from the teachers in those subjects, particularly History.

It was strengthening my understanding and immersing myself in these topics that led me to become fascinated, so much so that I ended up taking History A level and now plan on carrying it through into university in the form of social sciences.

Who or what at Sedbergh has helped you think about your next steps most clearly?

I have found that my teachers have had a real impact on the way I view myself and the direction I would like to take in later life. They are always willing to give you their time and provide direction as to the possibilities that the future could hold.

One of my teachers, who is in my boarding house, has played a crucial role in pushing me far beyond what I thought I was capable of. All of the teachers acknowledge and help drive your aims, no matter how ambitious.

What advice would you give to younger pupils who feel pressure to know exactly what they want to do after school?

My best advice to a younger pupil who feels the pressure to know exactly what they want to do after School would be that it’s okay. Especially as a younger pupil, you do not need to know exactly what your plan is or what you want to specialise in.

As you move up the School, you will be exposed to different areas and subjects that you may not have heard of or understood up to that point. You are constantly developing as a person, and your interests will change and evolve.

Personally, I took a long time to finalise my plan for what I want to do directly after School and am still not decided on an explicit plan for after university. As long as you research and have conversations about possible routes, then you are on a positive path and will find your way when the time comes.

What is the most valuable thing Sedbergh has taught you so far, inside or outside the classroom?

The most valuable thing that Sedbergh has taught me was not inside or outside of the classroom so much as it was everywhere, all the time. By this, I mean the constant encouragement to get involved in anything and everything.

At Sedbergh, there are countless opportunities in so many different areas, and the most valuable lesson I have learned is to have the courage to get involved in as much as possible, no matter if it is not something I am experienced at.

I believe that this is what has allowed me to make the absolute most of my time here and is a skill that I will now be able to take into later life.

Is there a particular experience, person or moment that has shaped the way you think about yourself or your future?

I have found that some of my teachers have had a real impact on the way I view myself and the direction I would like to take in later life. The teachers are always willing to give you their time and give direction as to the possibilities that the future could hold.

One of my teachers, who is also in my boarding house, has played a crucial role in pushing me far beyond what I thought I was capable of. All of the teachers acknowledge and help drive your aims, no matter how ambitious.

Furthermore, I have found that being in a boarding house with such a variety of people has led me to have many interesting and important conversations. These daily conversations have challenged the way I think and provided me with new perspectives which have slowly developed me into the person that I am today.

What is your favourite Sedbergh memory so far?

My favourite memory of Sedbergh was taking part in the whole-School performance of Les Misérables. Whilst I did not act on the stage, I did play my flute in the band.

Les Misérables is a complex and high-level play, and there were incredible performances from pupils throughout the whole School. Lots of different people got involved in one way or another, and it was really special to work together to produce something so magical.

This was something that I was involved in in Year 12, and yet I still find myself humming the songs or laughing with someone about the whole experience to this day. It really was a privilege to get involved with something so big, and the nerves and excitement on the evenings of the performances have and will really stick with me.